Rangers vs. Bruins preview: 1st game with fans at the Garden

Originally, the theme of this preview was going to be how the New York Rangers were taking on a powerhouse of the East Division.  It was how the Boston Bruins were building their lead in the East and running over opposition. Then, they  lost on the road Thursday night to the Islanders, 7-2.

Now, the theme is how the Bruins have lost two of their last three games, and instead of running away with the Division, they are in a cat fight for a playoff spot.  And that sets up what will be a very tough weekend series against the Bruins at Madison Square Garden.

A depleted Rangers squad will take on a reasonably healthy Bruins team in the first game of the season with live fans in the building.  Will it be enough to propel the Blueshirts to victory?  We shall see.  If the Rangers play the way they did just two weeks ago when they held the B’s to four goals in two games, they have a chance.

There’s no denying that everyone is excited to have fans in the building.

At this point, it appears that the Rangers will still be without Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, K’Andre Miller,  Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil.  That’s almost a third of the regular starting lineup and as hard as the replacements are playing, that’s a big gap in skillset to make up.